Paula's in The House

Monday, Feb 15, 2010.

B's doctor appointment came and went. She had her carotid arteries scanned with the sonogram to make sure she is getting enough oxygenated blood to her brain. We are set to hear the results with Dr. Joplin on Thursday morning.

Paula came by the house today. BB remembers her from working with Eveline, and B also knows her husband, Ray, who drives the local school bus here. So she got the stamp of approval from the toughest critic in the world, and Earl and I think she's pretty good too. She can only work part of the day as she has two other jobs, but Earl asked her to start today to test out. She came back after lunch and cleaned the whole house, she also cooks and can administer pills when needed. It did become a little tense because BB became so comfortable with her she started giving her orders and telling her just how to do things (as if she were simply a maid), stalking her and watching over her shoulder and commenting rudely like she likes to do. But she will be coming back on Friday to help out again. This could really be a solution for the time being, a familiar person that can come in and help out as needed when I am gone. Let's keep BB positive about having her in the house, she really liked her today!

In other news, B is slowly rejecting actual food for sweets. All she would eat today was chocolate cake, key lime pie (which is delicious and many THANKS Aunt Becky), and countless fudgesicles. She gorged on them then flat out refused to eat dinner, though I served it to her anyway. She didn't touch it and proceeded right back to the sweets. She does eat okra at night. I have been making sure to cook it for her, and while she doesn't eat at dinner she will eat the whole bowl of it each night out of the fridge. Last night it was close to a whole pound of okra that she ate in the night. I guess this is balancing the sweets nutritionally somewhat, but it is still a very unhealthy behavior. She has a problem with compulsive eating.

I also asked her about bathing, and if she wanted me to run her a bath and she got nasty and told me to mind my own business. She has not bathed since I have been here to witness (since November 1) and for who knows how long before that. Not sure what to do about this. It is clearly a taboo subject for her. But another area in which she clearly needs assistance. In general she was very confused today. Words are disappearing more and more quickly. Sometimes it is really hard for her to communicate and she gets really upset a lot. She threw a little fit earlier because she ran out of gum and Earl didn't just go get it for her immediately. Sometimes she is REALLY nasty to him and he does not deserve it at all. When he did go out to get the gum she was suddenly sweet as pie. Very manipulative behavior.